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Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	CENTERPOINT ENERGY HOUSTON ELECTRIC LLC
Entity Central Index Key	0000048732
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	1,000
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float		$ 0

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues	$ 2,337	$ 2,211	$ 2,014
Expenses:
Operation and maintenance	917	849	780
Depreciation and amortization	587	582	480
Taxes other than income taxes	210	207	208
Total	1,714	1,638	1,468
Operating Income	623	573	546
Other Income (Expense):
Interest and other finance charges	(150)	(149)	(158)
Interest on transition and system restoration bonds	(127)	(140)	(131)
Return on true-up balance	352	0	0
Other, net	38	32	53
Total	113	(257)	(236)
Income Before Income Taxes and Extraordinary Item	736	316	310
Income tax expense	248	116	102
Income Before Extraordinary Item	488	200	208
Extraordinary Item, net of tax	598	0	0
Net Income	$ 1,086	$ 200	$ 208

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ($198 and $220 related to VIEs at December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively)	$ 220	$ 198
Accounts and notes receivable, net ($49 and $52 related to VIEs at December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively)	201	203
Accounts and notes receivable—affiliated companies	1,027	919
Accrued unbilled revenues	72	70
Inventory	80	71
Taxes receivable	2	63
Deferred tax asset	3	3
Other ($39 and $42 related to VIEs at December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively)	65	62
Total current assets	1,670	1,589
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	5,043	4,781
Other Assets:
Regulatory assets ($2,597 and $2,289 related to VIEs at December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively)	3,726	2,675
Notes receivable—affiliated companies	750	750
Other	35	37
Total other assets	4,511	3,462
Total Assets	11,224	9,832
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of VIE transition and system restoration bonds long-term debt	307	283
Current portion of other long-term debt	46	0
Accounts payable	113	76
Accounts and notes payable—affiliated companies	32	36
Taxes accrued	101	92
Interest accrued	96	101
Other	98	74
Total current liabilities	793	662
Other Liabilities:
Accumulated deferred income taxes, net	2,113	1,428
Benefit obligations	252	215
Regulatory liabilities	441	417
Notes payable—affiliated companies	151	151
Other	78	297
Total other liabilities	3,035	2,508
Long-Term Debt:
VIE transition and system restoration bonds	2,215	2,522
Other	2,047	2,092
Total long-term debt	4,262	4,614
Commitments And Contingencies (Note 10)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Member’s Equity	3,134	2,048
Total Liabilities and Member’s Equity	$ 11,224	$ 9,832

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - Variable Interest Entity [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents, VIE	$ 220	$ 198
Accounts and notes receivable, net, VIE	52	49
Other, VIE	42	39
Other Assets:
Regulatory assets, VIE	$ 2,289	$ 2,597

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net Income	$ 1,086	$ 200	$ 208
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	587	582	480
Amortization of deferred financing costs	12	12	23
Deferred income taxes	149	(6)	16
Extraordinary Item, net of tax	(598)	0	0
Return on true-up balance	(352)	0	0
Changes in other assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable, net	(25)	12	44
Accounts receivable/payable, affiliates	(1)	1	17
Inventory	(9)	(2)	5
Accounts payable	19	9	(78)
Taxes receivable	61	(9)	(46)
Interest and taxes accrued	4	4	2
Net regulatory assets and liabilities	(28)	(30)	(63)
Other current assets	0	1	(2)
Other current liabilities	24	13	(28)
Other assets	0	0	(3)
Other liabilities	(5)	2	(13)
Other, net	1	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	925	789	562
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(606)	(566)	(442)
Increase in notes receivable from affiliates	(111)	(610)	(289)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash of transition and system restoration bond companies	(3)	(5)	26
Cash received from U.S. Department of Energy grant	110	90	0
Other, net	(7)	2	28
Net cash used in investing activities	(617)	(1,089)	(677)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Revolving credit facility, net	0	0	(251)
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0	1,165
Payments of long-term debt	(283)	(241)	(208)
Decrease in short-term notes payable with affiliates	0	0	(8)
Debt issuance costs	(3)	0	(10)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(286)	(241)	688
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	22	(541)	573
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of the Year	198	739	166
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of the Year	220	198	739
Cash Payments:
Interest, net of capitalized interest	282	292	287
Income taxes (refunds), net	42	111	134
Non-cash transactions:
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	$ 54	$ 37	$ 28

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Preference Stock [Member]
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008			1,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008			$ 0	$ 1,230	$ 410
Net Income	$ 208				208
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		0	1,000			0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	1,848	$ 0	$ 0	1,230	618	$ 0
Net Income	200				200
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		0	1,000			0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	2,048	$ 0	$ 0	1,230	818	$ 0
Net Income	1,086				1,086
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		0	1,000			0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 3,134	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,230	$ 1,904	$ 0

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References

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-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 87-21
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-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
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-Subparagraph a
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+ Details

CONSOLIDATED MEMBER'S EQUITY (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Statement of Members' Equity [Abstract]
Preference Stock, none outstanding	0	0	0
Cumulative preferred stock par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Cumulative preferred stock shares authorized (in shares)	20,000,000	20,000,000	20,000,000
Common stock shares par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000

Background	12 Months Ended
Background	Dec. 31, 2011
Background [Abstract]
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	Background CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC (CenterPoint Houston) engages in the electric transmission and distribution business in the Texas Gulf Coast area that includes the city of Houston. CenterPoint Houston is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CenterPoint Energy), a public utility holding company. At December 31, 2011, CenterPoint Houston had five subsidiaries, CenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company, LLC, CenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company II, LLC, CenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company III, LLC, CenterPoint Energy Restoration Bond Company, LLC and CenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company IV, LLC (collectively, the transition and system restoration bond companies). Each is a special purpose Delaware limited liability company formed solely for the purpose of purchasing and owning transition or system restoration property through the issuance of transition bonds or system restoration bonds and activities incidental thereto.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 2-6
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-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
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-Number 94-6
-Paragraph 10
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+ Details

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Dec. 31, 2011
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (a) Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. (b) Principles of Consolidation The accounts of CenterPoint Houston and its wholly owned subsidiaries are included in CenterPoint Houston’s consolidated financial statements. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. As of December 31, 2011, CenterPoint Houston had five variable interest entities (VIEs) consisting of transition and system restoration bond companies which it consolidates. The consolidated VIEs are wholly-owned bankruptcy remote special purpose entities that were formed specifically for the purpose of securitizing transition and system restoration related property. Creditors of CenterPoint Houston have no recourse to any assets or revenues of the transition and system restoration bond companies. The bonds issued by these VIEs are payable only from and secured by transition and system restoration property and the bondholders have no recourse to the general credit of CenterPoint Houston. (c) Revenues CenterPoint Houston records revenue for electricity delivery under the accrual method and these revenues are recognized upon delivery to customers. Electricity deliveries not billed by month-end are accrued based on daily supply volumes, applicable rates and analyses reflecting significant historical trends and experience. (d) Long-Lived Assets and Intangibles CenterPoint Houston records property, plant and equipment at historical cost. CenterPoint Houston expenses repair and maintenance costs as incurred. CenterPoint Houston periodically evaluates long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, and specifically identifiable intangibles, when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. The determination of whether an impairment has occurred is based on an estimate of undiscounted cash flows attributable to the assets, as compared to the carrying value of the assets. (e) Regulatory Assets and Liabilities CenterPoint Houston applies the guidance for accounting for regulated operations. CenterPoint Houston recognizes removal costs as a component of depreciation expense in accordance with regulatory treatment. As of December 31, 2010 and 2011, these removal costs of $323 million and $339 million, respectively, are classified as regulatory liabilities in CenterPoint Houston’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. A portion of the amount of removal costs that related to asset retirement obligations has been reclassified from a regulatory liability to an asset retirement liability in accordance with accounting guidance for conditional asset retirement obligations. (f) Depreciation and Amortization Expense Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based on economic lives or a regulatory-mandated recovery period. Transition and system restoration property is being amortized over the expected life of the transition and system restoration bonds (12 to 14 years), based on estimated revenue from transition or system restoration charges, interest accruals and other expenses. Other amortization expense includes amortization of regulatory assets and other intangibles. (g) Allowance for Funds Used During Construction Allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) is capitalized as a component of projects under construction and is amortized over the assets’ estimated useful lives once the assets are placed in service. AFUDC represents the composite interest cost of borrowed funds and a reasonable return on the equity funds used for construction. Although AFUDC increases both utility plant and earnings, it is realized in cash when the assets are included in rates. During 2009, 2010 and 2011, CenterPoint Houston capitalized AFUDC of $3 million, $3 million and $4 million, respectively. (h) Income Taxes CenterPoint Houston is included in the consolidated income tax returns of CenterPoint Energy. CenterPoint Houston calculates its income tax provision on a separate return basis under a tax sharing agreement with CenterPoint Energy. CenterPoint Houston uses the asset and liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Investment tax credits that were deferred are being amortized over the estimated lives of the related property. A valuation allowance is established against deferred tax assets for which management believes realization is not considered more likely than not. CenterPoint Houston recognizes interest and penalties as a component of income tax expense. Current federal and certain state income taxes are payable to or receivable from CenterPoint Energy. (i) Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Accounts and notes receivable are net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of less than $1 million and $1 million at December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively. The provision for doubtful accounts in CenterPoint Houston’s Statements of Consolidated Income for 2009, 2010 and 2011 was $1 million, less than $1 million and $2 million, respectively. (j) Inventory Inventory consists principally of materials and supplies and is valued at the lower of average cost or market. Materials and supplies are recorded to inventory when purchased and subsequently charged to expense or capitalized to plant when installed. (k) Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows For purposes of reporting cash flows, CenterPoint Houston considers cash equivalents to be short-term, highly-liquid investments with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase. In connection with the issuance of transition bonds and system restoration bonds, CenterPoint Houston was required to establish restricted cash accounts to collateralize the bonds that were issued in these financing transactions. These restricted cash accounts are not available for withdrawal until the maturity of the bonds and are not included in cash and cash equivalents. These restricted cash accounts of $39 million and $42 million at December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively, are included in other current assets in CenterPoint Houston's Consolidated Balance Sheets. For additional information regarding transition and system restoration bonds, see Notes 4(b) and 8. Cash and cash equivalents includes $198 million and $220 million at December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively, that is held by CenterPoint Houston’s transition and system restoration bond subsidiaries solely to support servicing the transition and system restoration bonds. (l) New Accounting Pronouncements In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new accounting guidance to achieve common fair value measurements and disclosure requirements in generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Some of the provisions of the new accounting guidance include requiring (1) that only nonfinancial assets should be valued based on a determination of their best use, (2) disclosure of quantitative information about unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements and (3) disclosure of the level within the fair value hierarchy for each class of assets or liabilities not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but for which the fair value is disclosed. This new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. CenterPoint Houston expects that the adoption of this new guidance will not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Management believes the impact of other recently issued standards, which are not yet effective, will not have a material impact on CenterPoint Houston’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption. (m) Other Current Liabilities Included in other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2010 and 2011 was $22 million and $23 million, respectively, of customer deposits.

Property, Plant and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

(a) Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment includes the following:



	Weighted Average Useful	December 31,
	Lives (Years)	2010		2011
		(in millions)
Transmission	39	$	1,632	$	1,720
Distribution	28	5,149		5,327
Other	13	805		780
Total		7,586		7,827
Accumulated depreciation		2,805		2,784
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	4,781	$	5,043

(b) Depreciation and Amortization

The following table presents depreciation and amortization expense for 2009, 2010 and 2011:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2009		2010		2011
	(in millions)
Depreciation expense	$	259	$	273	$	257
Amortization of securitized regulatory assets	203		289		308
Other amortization	18		20		22
Total depreciation and amortization	$	480	$	582	$	587

A reconciliation of the changes in the asset retirement obligation (ARO) liability is as follows (in millions):



	December 31,
	2010		2011
Beginning balance	$	22	$	26
Accretion expense	1		1
Revisions in estimates of cash flows	3		(4		)
Ending balance	$	26	$	23

The increase of $3 million in the ARO from the revision of estimate in 2010 is primarily attributable to the decrease in the credit-adjusted risk-free rate used to value the liability as of the end of the periods. The decrease of $4 million in the ARO from the revision of estimate in 2011 is primarily attributable to an increase in the estimated useful lives of the underlying assets. There were no material additions or settlements during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software. This disclosure may include property plant and equipment accounting policies and methodology, a schedule of property, plant and equipment gross, additions, deletions, transfers and other changes, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, net, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and useful lives, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

+ References + Details

Regulatory Matters

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Regulatory Matters [Abstract]

Public Utilities Disclosure [Text Block]

Regulatory Matters

(a) Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

The following is a list of regulatory assets/liabilities reflected on CenterPoint Houston’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2011:



	December 31,
	2010			2011
	(in millions)
Securitized regulatory asset	$	2,597		$	2,289
True-up Settlement (1)	—			1,684
Unrecognized equity return (2)	(216		)	(600		)
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt	61			56
Pension and postretirement-related regulatory asset (3)	133			177
Other long-term regulatory assets (4)	100			120
Total regulatory assets	2,675			3,726

Estimated removal costs	323			339
Other long-term regulatory liabilities	94			102
Total regulatory liabilities	417			441

Total regulatory assets and liabilities, net	$	2,258		$	3,285

____________


(1)	In accordance with a final order from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (Texas Utility Commission), the true-up settlement at December 31, 2011 was not earning a return. The regulatory asset was securitized in January 2012 as a result of the issuance of the transition bonds described below in Note 4(b).


(2)	As of December 31, 2011, CenterPoint Houston has not recognized an allowed equity return of $600 million because such return will be recognized as it is recovered in rates. During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, CenterPoint Houston recognized approximately $14 million, $16 million and $21 million, respectively, of the allowed equity return.

(3)

CenterPoint Houston’s actuarially determined pension expense for 2010 and 2011 in excess of the amount being recovered through rates is being deferred for rate making purposes and was addressed in its 2010 rate application pursuant to Texas law. CenterPoint Houston deferred as a regulatory asset $26 million and $16 million in pension and other postemployment expenses during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively. Deferred pension and other postemployment expenses of $58 million and $16 million at December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively, is not earning a return.


(4)	Other regulatory assets that are not earning a return were not material at December 31, 2010 and 2011.

(b) Resolution of True-Up Appeal

In March 2004, CenterPoint Houston filed a true-up application with the Texas Utility Commission, requesting recovery of $3.7 billion, excluding interest, as allowed under the Texas Electric Choice Plan. In December 2004, the Texas Utility Commission issued its final order (True-Up Order) allowing CenterPoint Houston to recover a true-up balance of approximately $2.3 billion, which included interest through August 31, 2004, and provided for adjustment of the amount to be recovered to include interest on the balance until recovery, along with the principal portion of additional excess mitigation credits returned to customers after August 31, 2004 and certain other adjustments. To reflect the impact of the True-Up Order, in 2004 and 2005, CenterPoint Houston recorded a net after-tax extraordinary loss of $947 million.

Various parties, including CenterPoint Houston, appealed the True-Up Order. These appeals were heard first by a district court in Travis County, Texas, then by the Texas Third Court of Appeals and finally by the Texas Supreme Court. In March 2011, the Texas Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling on such appeals in which it affirmed in part and reversed in part the decision of the Texas Utility Commission. In June 2011, the Texas Supreme Court issued a final mandate remanding the case to the Texas Utility Commission for further proceedings (the Remand Proceeding).

In September 2011, CenterPoint Houston reached an agreement in principle with the staff of the Texas Utility Commission and certain intervenors to settle the issues in the Remand Proceeding (the Settlement). In October 2011, the Texas Utility Commission approved a final order (the Final Order) in the Remand Proceeding consistent with the Settlement. The Final Order provided that (i) CenterPoint Houston was entitled to recover an additional true-up balance of $1.695 billion (the Recoverable True-Up Balance) in the Remand Proceeding, (ii) no further interest would accrue on the Recoverable True-Up Balance, and (iii) CenterPoint Houston would reimburse certain parties for their reasonable rate case expenses.

In October 2011, the Texas Utility Commission also issued a financing order (the Financing Order) that authorized the issuance of transition bonds by CenterPoint Houston to securitize the Recoverable True-Up Balance. In January 2012, CenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company IV, LLC (Bond Company IV), a new special purpose subsidiary of CenterPoint Houston, issued $1.695 billion of transition bonds in three tranches with interest rates ranging from 0.9012% to 3.0282% and final maturity dates ranging from April 15, 2018 to October 15, 2025. Through the issuance of these transition bonds, CenterPoint Houston recovered the Recoverable True-Up Balance, less approximately $10.4 million of offering expenses. The transition bonds will be repaid over time through a charge imposed on customers in CenterPoint Houston's service territory. The holders of the transition bonds do not have recourse to any assets or revenues of CenterPoint Houston, and the creditors of CenterPoint Houston do not have recourse to any assets or revenues of Bond Company IV, including, without limitation, the transition property transferred to Bond Company IV in connection with the issuance of the transition bonds. The transition property includes the right to impose, collect and receive an irrevocable, non-bypassable charge payable by CenterPoint Houston's retail electric customers.

As a result of the Final Order, CenterPoint Houston recorded a pre-tax extraordinary gain of $921 million ($598 million after taxes of $323 million) and $352 million ($229 million after-tax) of Other Income related to a portion of interest on the appealed amount. An additional $405 million ($263 million after-tax) will be recorded as an equity return over the life of the transition bonds.

June 2010 Rate Proceeding. As required under the final order in its 2006 rate proceeding, in June 2010 CenterPoint Houston filed an application to change rates with the Texas Utility Commission and the cities in its service area. Following hearings in the fall of 2010, the Texas Utility Commission issued its order in May 2011. In response to motions filed by several parties, including CenterPoint Houston, in June 2011, the Texas Utility Commission issued an order on rehearing, which addressed certain errors and inconsistencies identified in its prior decision. CenterPoint Houston implemented revised rates on September 1, 2011 based on the order on rehearing. The order on rehearing has been appealed to the Texas courts by various parties; however, a procedural schedule has not been established.

The order on rehearing provides for a base rate increase of approximately $14.7 million per year for delivery charges to the REPs and a decrease to charges to wholesale transmission customers of $12.3 million per year. Further, the order adopts a mechanism to track amounts for uncertain tax positions and provide for ultimate recovery of those costs. The order authorizes a return on equity of 10%, a cost of debt of 6.74%, a capital structure comprised of 55% debt and 45% common equity, and an overall rate of return of 8.21%. The decision also implements CenterPoint Houston’s request to reconcile costs incurred for the advanced metering system (AMS) project and to shorten the period for collecting the AMS surcharge from twelve to six years for residential customers in order to reflect funds received from the U.S. Department of Energy. As part of the process to reconcile AMS costs, $138 million of the capital investment (net of related deferred taxes) used to determine the AMS surcharge was transferred to CenterPoint Houston's rate base and used in calculating delivery rates. As a result of the Texas Utility Commission’s order, CenterPoint Houston anticipates that 2012 operating income will be reduced by approximately $35 million as compared to 2011 performance.

Other. In May 2009, CenterPoint Houston filed an application at the Texas Utility Commission seeking approval of certain estimated 2010 energy efficiency program costs, an energy efficiency performance bonus for 2008 programs, and carrying costs totaling approximately $10 million. The application sought to begin recovery of these costs through a surcharge effective July 1, 2010. In October 2009, the Texas Utility Commission issued its order approving recovery of approximately $8 million to cover the 2010 energy efficiency program costs and a partial performance bonus, plus carrying costs, but disallowed recovery of a performance bonus of $2 million on approximately $10 million in 2008 energy efficiency costs expended pursuant to the terms of a settlement agreement in a prior rate case. CenterPoint Houston began collecting the approved amounts in July 2010. CenterPoint Houston appealed the denial of the full 2008 performance bonus to the 98th district court in Travis County, Texas. In October 2010, the district court upheld the Texas Utility Commission’s decision. In February 2011, CenterPoint Houston appealed the district court’s judgment to the Texas Third Court of Appeals at Austin. Oral arguments were heard in October 2011, and the case remains pending.

In April 2010, CenterPoint Houston filed an application with the Texas Utility Commission seeking approval of the recovery of $14.4 million related to estimated 2011 energy efficiency program costs, an energy efficiency performance bonus for 2009 programs, and recovery of revenue losses related to the implementation of the 2009 energy efficiency program . The application sought to begin recovery of these costs through a surcharge beginning in January 2011. In November 2010, the Texas Utility Commission issued its order approving recovery of approximately $11 million of the 2011 energy efficiency program costs and a performance bonus, but disallowed recovery of a performance bonus of $2 million on the 2009 energy efficiency costs expended pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement referenced above. The Texas Utility Commission further concluded that it does not have statutory authority to permit recovery of the approximately $1.4 million in lost revenue associated with 2009 energy efficiency programs. CenterPoint Houston began collecting the approved amounts in January 2011, but has appealed the denial of the full 2009 performance bonus and lost revenue to the 201st district court in Travis County, Texas, where the case remains pending.

In April 2011, CenterPoint Houston filed an application with the Texas Utility Commission seeking approval of the recovery in 2012 of approximately $44.3 million consisting of: (1) estimated 2012 energy efficiency program costs of approximately $35.9 million; (2) an energy efficiency performance bonus of approximately $5.8 million based on CenterPoint Houston’s 2010 program achievements; (3) approximately $2.2 million of lost revenues due to verified and reported 2010 energy savings; and (4) approximately $0.5 million for under-recovery of 2010 program costs. In the preliminary order in this proceeding, the Texas Utility Commission excluded approximately $2.1 million of the requested performance bonus for the 2010 programs and has concluded that it does not have the statutory authority to permit recovery of the requested $2.2 million of lost revenues associated with the 2010 programs. In August 2011, CenterPoint Houston and the parties agreed to forego a hearing and admit evidence supporting the recovery of (1) the estimated 2012 energy efficiency costs of approximately $35.9 million, (2) an energy efficiency performance bonus of approximately $3.6 million, and (3) approximately $0.5 million for under-recovery of 2010 program costs. In December 2011, the Texas Utility Commission issued an order approving recovery of the amounts identified above and CenterPoint Houston began collecting those approved amounts. CenterPoint Houston has filed notification that it reserves its right to appeal the denial of the full 2010 performance bonus and lost revenues. The approved rate adjustments took effect with the commencement of CenterPoint Houston’s January 2012 billing month.

In August 2011, CenterPoint Houston filed a Transmission Cost of Service application with the Texas Utility Commission seeking an increase in annual revenue of approximately $3.4 million. In September 2011, the Texas Utility Commission approved the application and the rates became effective. In November 2011, CenterPoint Houston filed another Transmission Cost of Service application with the Texas Utility Commission seeking an increase in annual revenue of approximately $7.1 million. In January 2012, the Texas Utility Commission approved the application and the rates became effective.

In September 2011, a new rule of the Texas Utility Commission relating to a Distribution Cost Recovery Factor (DCRF) became effective. The new rule permits an electric utility such as CenterPoint Houston to file each year to recover through a separate DCRF a return on changes to certain distribution-related capital investments, net of any changes in distribution-related accumulated deferred income taxes, as well as related changes to depreciation expense and taxes. The utility is allowed to request one DCRF annually unless in the previous year it was found to have earned in excess of its authorized return on equity as calculated in its annual earnings monitoring report on a weather-adjusted basis, in which case the DCRF is not available. The utility is limited to four DCRF filings and then must seek a full rate proceeding before it can request a subsequent DCRF. The rule expires January 1, 2017.

In October 2011, CenterPoint Houston and certain other parties filed a non-unanimous stipulation (Transmission Stipulation) with the Texas Utility Commission to resolve claims related to the “transition mechanism” component of certain invalidated transmission pricing rules. The Transmission Stipulation resolves all remaining claims that arose from or relate to wholesale transmission service and charges within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) for the period from September 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999 during which the Texas Utility Commission had continued to utilize the “transition mechanism” component of the invalidated transmission pricing rules in setting ERCOT transmission rates. The Transmission Stipulation was filed by all parties to the proceeding, except CPS Energy, and was approved by the Texas Utility Commission in January 2012. Under the Transmission Stipulation, CenterPoint Houston's payment of $5.6 million is to be made within 30 days after issuance of a final appealable order. CenterPoint Houston will seek recovery of the payment through its Transmission Cost Recovery Factor mechanism.

Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

Employee Benefit Plans

(a) Pension Plans

Substantially all of CenterPoint Houston’s employees participate in CenterPoint Energy’s non-contributory qualified defined benefit plan. Under the cash balance formula, participants accumulate a retirement benefit based upon 5% of eligible earnings, which increased from 4% effective January 1, 2009, and accrued interest.

CenterPoint Energy’s funding policy is to review amounts annually in accordance with applicable regulations in order to achieve adequate funding of projected benefit obligations. Pension expense is allocated to CenterPoint Houston based on covered employees. This calculation is intended to allocate pension costs in the same manner as a separate employer plan. Assets of the plan are not segregated or restricted by CenterPoint Energy’s participating subsidiaries. CenterPoint Houston recognized pension expense of $43 million, $31 million and $27 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. CenterPoint Houston deferred as a regulatory asset $26 million and $16 million in pension and other postemployment expenses during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively.

In addition to the pension plan, CenterPoint Houston participates in CenterPoint Energy’s non-qualified benefit restoration plans, which allow participants to receive the benefits to which they would have been entitled under the non-contributory pension plan except for federally mandated limits on qualified plan benefits or on the level of compensation on which qualified plan benefits may be calculated. The expense associated with the non-qualified pension plan was less than $1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 and $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

(b) Savings Plan

CenterPoint Houston participates in CenterPoint Energy’s qualified savings plan, which includes a cash or deferred arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) under Section 4975(e)(7) of the Code. Under the plan, participating employees may contribute a portion of their compensation, on a pre-tax or after-tax basis, generally up to a maximum of 50% of eligible compensation. CenterPoint Houston matches 100% of the first 6% of each employee’s compensation contributed. The matching contributions are fully vested at all times. CenterPoint Energy allocates to CenterPoint Houston the savings plan benefit expense related to CenterPoint Houston’s employees. Savings plan benefit expense was $11 million, $12 million and $12 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively.

CenterPoint Houston’s employees participate in CenterPoint Energy’s benefit plans which provide certain healthcare and life insurance benefits for retired employees on a contributory and non-contributory basis. Employees become eligible for these benefits if they have met certain age and service requirements at retirement, as defined in the plans. Under plan amendments effective in early 1999, healthcare benefits for future retirees were changed to limit employer contributions for medical coverage. Such benefit costs are accrued over the active service period of employees.

CenterPoint Houston is required to fund a portion of its obligations in accordance with rate orders. The net postretirement benefit cost includes the following components:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2009			2010			2011
	(in millions)
Service cost— benefits earned during the period	$	—		$	—		$	—
Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation	18			16			16
Expected return on plan assets	(8		)	(9		)	(9		)
Amortization of transition obligation	6			6			6
Amortization of loss	—			—			1
Benefit enhancement	—			—			1
Net postretirement benefit cost	$	16		$	13		$	15

CenterPoint Houston used the following assumptions to determine net postretirement benefit costs:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2009		2010		2011
Discount rate	6.90	%	5.70	%	5.20	%
Expected return on plan assets	7.50	%	7.50	%	7.50	%

In determining net periodic benefits cost, CenterPoint Houston uses fair value, as of the beginning of the year, as its basis for determining expected return on plan assets.

Following are reconciliations of CenterPoint Houston’s beginning and ending balances of its postretirement benefit plan’s benefit obligation, plan assets and funded status for 2010 and 2011. The measurement dates for plan assets and obligations were December 31, 2010 and 2011.



	Year Ended December 31,
	2010			2011
	(in millions)
Change in Benefit Obligation
Accumulated benefit obligation, beginning of year	$	288		$	306
Interest cost	16			16
Benefits paid	(24		)	(23		)
Participant contributions	2			2
Medicare drug reimbursement	1			3
Actuarial loss	23			31
Accumulated benefit obligation, end of year	$	306		$	335
Change in Plan Assets
Plan assets, beginning of year	$	124		$	122
Benefits paid	(24		)	(23		)
Employer contributions	9			9
Participant contributions	2			2
Actual investment return	11			6
Plan assets, end of year	$	122		$	116
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Other liabilities-benefit obligations	$	(184	)	$	(219	)
Net liability, end of year	$	(184	)	$	(219	)
Actuarial Assumptions
Discount rate	5.20		%	4.80		%
Expected long-term return on assets	7.50		%	6.00		%
Healthcare cost trend rate assumed for the next year	8.50		%	8.00		%
Prescription drug cost trend rate assumed for the next year	8.50		%	8.00		%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (ultimate trend rate)	5.50		%	5.50		%
Year that the healthcare rate reaches the ultimate trend rate	2017			2017
Year that the prescription drug rate reaches the ultimate trend rate	2017			2017

The discount rate assumption was determined by matching the accrued cash flows of CenterPoint Energy’s plans against a hypothetical yield curve of high-quality corporate bonds represented by a series of annualized individual discount rates from one-half to ninety-nine years.

The expected rate of return assumption was developed by a weighted-average return analysis of the targeted asset allocation of CenterPoint Energy’s plans and the expected real return for each asset class, based on the long-term capital market assumptions, adjusted for investment fees and diversification effects, in addition to expected inflation.

For measurement purposes, healthcare and prescription drug costs are assumed to increase to 8.00% during 2012, after which this rate decreases until reaching the ultimate trend rate of 5.50% in 2017, except for the 2013 rate which is expected to increase to 9.00% in anticipation of the healthcare exchanges being introduced to the market in 2014.

CenterPoint Houston does not have amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income related to its postretirement benefit plans as of December 31, 2010 and 2011. Unrecognized costs were recorded as a regulatory asset because CenterPoint Houston historically and currently recovers postretirement expenses in rates.

Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have a significant effect on the reported amounts for CenterPoint Houston’s postretirement benefit plans. A 1% change in the assumed healthcare cost trend rate would have the following effects:



	1% Increase		1% Decrease
	(in millions)
Effect on the postretirement benefit obligation	$	14	$	(13	)
Effect on total of service and interest cost	1		(1		)

In managing the investments associated with the postretirement benefit plans, CenterPoint Houston’s objective is to preserve and enhance the value of plan assets while maintaining an acceptable level of volatility. These objectives are expected to be achieved through an investment strategy that manages liquidity requirements while maintaining a long-term horizon in making investment decisions and efficient and effective management of plan assets.

As part of the investment strategy discussed above, CenterPoint Houston has adopted and maintained the following asset allocation ranges for its postretirement benefit plans:



Domestic equity securities	13-23%
International equity securities	3-13%
Debt securities	68-78%
Cash	0-2%

The following tables present by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the CenterPoint Houston’s postretirement plan assets as of December 31, 2010 and 2011, by asset category as follows:



	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2010 (in millions)
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Mutual funds (1)	$	122	$	122	$	—	$	—
Total	$	122	$	122	$	—	$	—


(1)	74% of the amount invested in mutual funds is in fixed income securities; 18% is in U.S. equities and 8% is in international equities.



	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011 (in millions)
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Mutual funds (1)	$	116	$	116	$	—	$	—
Total	$	116	$	116	$	—	$	—


(1)	74% of the amount invested in mutual funds is in fixed income securities; 18% is in U.S. equities and 8% is in international equities.

CenterPoint Houston expects to contribute $7 million to its postretirement benefits plan in 2012. The following benefit payments are expected to be paid by the postretirement benefit plan (in millions):



	Postretirement Benefit Plan
	Benefit Payments		Medicare Subsidy Receipts
2012	$	23	$	(2	)
2013	23		(2		)
2014	25		(3		)
2015	26		(3		)
2016	27		(3		)
2017-2021	143		(19		)

(d) Postemployment Benefits

CenterPoint Houston participates in CenterPoint Energy’s plan which provides postemployment benefits for former or inactive employees, their beneficiaries and covered dependents, after employment but before retirement (primarily health care and life insurance benefits for participants in the long-term disability plan). CenterPoint Houston recorded postemployment expense of $-0-, $-0- and $3 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. Amounts relating to postemployment obligations included in “Benefit Obligations” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2010 and 2011 were $13 million and $16 million, respectively.

(e) Other Non-Qualified Plans

CenterPoint Houston participates in CenterPoint Energy’s deferred compensation plans that provide benefits payable to directors, officers and certain key employees or their designated beneficiaries at specified future dates, upon termination, retirement or death. Benefit payments are made from the general assets of CenterPoint Houston. CenterPoint Houston recorded benefit expense relating to these plans of $1 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Amounts relating to deferred compensation plans included in “Benefit Obligations” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2010 and 2011 were $14 million and $15 million, respectively.

(f) Other Employee Matters

As of December 31, 2011, CenterPoint Houston had 2,768 full-time employees, of which approximately 45% are subject to collective bargaining agreements.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for pension and other postretirement benefits.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph h
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph q
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph m
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 106
-Paragraph 518
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 87
-Paragraph 264
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 03-2
-Paragraph 8
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 30
-Paragraph 26
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS106-2
-Paragraph 20, 21, 22
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 158
-Paragraph 7, 21, 22
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5, 6, 7, 8
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Implementation Guide (Q and A)
-Number FAS88
-Paragraph 63
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2235017

+ Details

Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

Fair Value Measurements

Assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their value. Hierarchical levels, as defined below and directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuations of these assets and liabilities, are as follows:

Level 1: Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date. The types of assets carried at Level 1 fair value are investments listed in active markets. At December 31, 2010 and 2011, CenterPoint Houston held Level 1 investments of $36 million and $38 million, respectively, which were primarily money market funds.

Level 2: Inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. CenterPoint Houston had no Level 2 assets or liabilities at either December 31, 2010 or 2011.

Level 3: Inputs are unobservable for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. These inputs reflect management’s best estimate of the assumptions market participants would use in determining fair value. CenterPoint Houston had no Level 3 assets or liabilities at either December 31, 2010 or 2011.

Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, short-term borrowings and the $750 million notes receivable from CenterPoint Houston’s parent are estimated to be equivalent to carrying amounts and have been excluded from the table below. The fair value of each debt instrument is determined by multiplying the principal amount of each debt instrument by the market price.



	December 31, 2010				December 31, 2011
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(in millions)
Financial liabilities:
Long-term debt (including $151 million of long-term notes payable to parent)	$	5,048	$	5,499	$	4,765	$	5,345

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 44A, 44B
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15C, 15D
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph a-d
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15B
-Subparagraph a, b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 3, 10, 14, 15
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 157
-Paragraph 32, 33, 34
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 159
-Paragraph 17-22, 27, 28
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19296-110258

+ Details

Related Party Transactions and Major Customers	12 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions and Major Customers	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transactions and Major Customers [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]	Related Party Transactions and Major Customers (a) Related Party Transactions CenterPoint Houston participates in a money pool through which it can borrow or invest on a short-term basis. Funding needs are aggregated and external borrowing or investing is based on the net cash position. The net funding requirements of the money pool are expected to be met with borrowings under CenterPoint Energy’s revolving credit facility or the sale of CenterPoint Energy’s commercial paper. CenterPoint Houston had investments in the money pool of $899 million and $1.0 billion at December 31, 2010 and 2011, which are included in accounts and notes receivable-affiliated companies in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2011, CenterPoint Houston’s money pool investment bore interest of 0.07%. At December 31, 2010 and 2011, CenterPoint Houston had a $750 million note receivable from its parent, which bears interest at the prime rate, 3.25% at December 31, 2011. For each of the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, CenterPoint Houston had net interest income related to affiliate borrowings of $19 million. CenterPoint Energy provides some corporate services to CenterPoint Houston. The costs of services have been charged directly to CenterPoint Houston using methods that management believes are reasonable. These methods include negotiated usage rates, dedicated asset assignment and proportionate corporate formulas based on operating expenses, assets, gross margin, employees and a composite of assets, gross margin and employees. These charges are not necessarily indicative of what would have been incurred had CenterPoint Houston not been an affiliate. Amounts charged to CenterPoint Houston for these services were $126 million, $132 million and $142 million in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and are included primarily in operation and maintenance expenses. (b) Major Customers During 2009, 2010 and 2011, revenues derived from energy delivery charges provided by CenterPoint Houston to REPs that are affiliates of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) totaled $634 million, $583 million and $594 million, respectively. During 2009, 2010 and 2011, revenues derived from energy delivery charges provided by CenterPoint Houston to REPs that are affiliates of Energy Future Holdings Corp. totaled $182 million, $185 million and $182 million, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for related party transactions, including the nature of the relationship(s), a description of the transactions, the amount of the transactions, the effects of any change in the method of establishing the terms of the transaction from the previous period, stated interest rate, expiration date, terms and manner of settlement per the agreement with the related party, and amounts due to or from related parties. If the entity and one or more other entities are under common ownership or management control and this control affects the operating results or financial position, disclosure includes the nature of the control relationship even if there are no transactions between the entities. Disclosure may also include the aggregate amount of current and deferred tax expense for each statement of earnings presented where the entity is a member of a group that files a consolidated tax return, the amount of any tax related balances due to or from affiliates as of the date of each statement of financial position presented, the principal provisions of the method by which the consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense is allocated to the members of the group and the nature and effect of any changes in that method. Examples of related party transactions include transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiary; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) and entity and its principal owners; and (d) affiliates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 4
-Section 08
-Paragraph k

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 3A
-Section 04
-Paragraph b

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 57
-Paragraph 1-4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39603-107864

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39678-107864

+ Details

Long-term Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Debt Long-term [Abstract]

Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

Long-term Debt



	December 31, 2010					December 31, 2011
	Long-Term			Current(1)		Long-Term		Current(1)
	(in millions)
Long-term debt:
First mortgage bonds 9.15% due 2021(2)	$	102		$	—	$	102	$	—
General mortgage bonds 5.60% to 7.00% due 2013 to 2033(2)	1,762			—		1,762		—
Pollution control bonds 3.625% to 5.60% due 2012 to 2027(3)	229			—		183		46
System restoration bonds 1.833% to 4.243% due 2012 to 2022	601			43		556		45
Transition bonds 4.192% to 5.63% due 2012 to 2020	1,921			240		1,659		262
Other	(1		)	—		—		—
Total long-term debt	$	4,614		$	283	$	4,262	$	353

____________


(1)	Includes amounts due or scheduled to be paid within one year of the date noted.


(2)	Debt issued as collateral is excluded from the financial statements because of the contingent nature of the obligation.


(3)	These series of debt are secured by CenterPoint Houston’s general mortgage bonds.

Transition and System Restoration Bonds. As of December 31, 2011, CenterPoint Houston had five special purpose subsidiaries consisting of transition and system restoration bond companies, which it consolidates, including Bond Company IV, which issued transition bonds in January 2012 as described below. The consolidated special purpose subsidiaries are wholly-owned bankruptcy remote entities that were formed solely for the purpose of purchasing and owning transition or system restoration property through the issuance of transition bonds or system restoration bonds and activities incidental thereto. These transition bonds and system restoration bonds are payable only through the imposition and collection of “transition” or “system restoration” charges, as defined in the Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act, which are irrevocable, non-bypassable charges payable by most of CenterPoint Houston's retail electric customers in order to provide recovery of authorized qualified costs. CenterPoint Houston has no payment obligations in respect of the transition and system restoration bonds other than to remit the applicable transition or system restoration charges it collects. Each special purpose entity is the sole owner of the right to impose, collect and receive the applicable transition or system restoration charges securing the bonds issued by that entity. Creditors of CenterPoint Energy or CenterPoint Houston have no recourse to any assets or revenues of the transition and system restoration bond companies (including the transition and system restoration charges), and the holders of transition bonds or system restoration bonds have no recourse to the assets or revenues of CenterPoint Energy or CenterPoint Houston.

In January 2012, Bond Company IV issued $1.695 billion of transition bonds in three tranches with interest rates ranging from 0.9012% to 3.0282% and final maturity dates ranging from April 15, 2018 to October 15, 2025. The transition bonds will be repaid over time through a charge imposed on customers in CenterPoint Houston's service territory.

Revolving Credit Facility. In the third quarter of 2011, CenterPoint Houston's revolving credit facility was replaced with a five-year revolving credit facility of similar borrowing capacity. As of December 31, 2010 and 2011, CenterPoint Houston had the following revolving credit facilities and utilization of such facilities (in millions):



December 31, 2010						December 31, 2011
Size of Facility		Loans		Letters of Credit		Size of Facility		Loans		Letters of Credit
$	289	$	—	$	4	$	300	$	—	$	4

CenterPoint Houston’s $300 million credit facility, which is scheduled to terminate September 9, 2016, can be drawn at the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 150 basis points based on CenterPoint Houston’s current credit ratings. The facility contains a debt (excluding transition and system restoration bonds) to total capitalization covenant, limiting debt to 65% of its capitalization. CenterPoint Houston was in compliance with all debt covenants as of December 31, 2011.

Maturities. CenterPoint Houston’s maturities of long-term debt and scheduled payments on transition and system restoration bonds are $353 million in 2012, $780 million in 2013, $1.0 billion in 2014, $249 million in 2015 and $266 million in 2016. These maturities include transition and system restoration bond principal repayments on scheduled payment dates aggregating $307 million in 2012, $330 million in 2013, $235 million in 2014, $249 million in 2015 and $266 million in 2016. These maturities exclude scheduled repayments on the transition bonds issued by Bond Company IV in 2012 of $62 million in 2012, $117 million in 2013, $120 million in 2014, $122 million in 2015 and $126 million in 2016.

Liens. As of December 31, 2011, CenterPoint Houston’s assets were subject to liens securing approximately $253 million of first mortgage bonds. Sinking or improvement fund and replacement fund requirements on the first mortgage bonds may be satisfied by certification of property additions. Sinking fund and replacement fund requirements for 2009, 2010 and 2011 have been satisfied by certification of property additions. The replacement fund requirement to be satisfied in 2012 is approximately $184 million, and the sinking fund requirement to be satisfied in 2012 is approximately $3 million. CenterPoint Houston expects to meet these 2012 obligations by certification of property additions. As of December 31, 2011, CenterPoint Houston’s assets were also subject to liens securing approximately $2.5 billion of general mortgage bonds which are junior to the liens of the first mortgage bonds.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.

+ References + Details

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

Income Taxes

The components of CenterPoint Houston’s income tax expense were as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2009			2010			2011
	(in millions)
Current income tax expense:
Federal	$	70		$	105		$	80
State	16			17			19
Total current expense	86			122			99
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	17			(5		)	146
State	(1		)	(1		)	3
Total deferred expense (benefit)	16			(6		)	149
Total income tax expense	$	102		$	116		$	248

A reconciliation of the expected federal income tax expense using the federal statutory income tax rate to the actual income tax expense and resulting effective income tax rate is as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2009			2010			2011
	(in millions)
Income before income taxes	$	310		$	316		$	736
Federal statutory income tax rate	35		%	35		%	35		%
Expected federal income tax expense	108			111			258
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	10			10			15
Amortization of investment tax credit	(7		)	(7		)	(6		)
Increase (decrease) in settled and uncertain tax positions	(2		)	9			(4		)
Other, net	(7		)	(7		)	(15		)
Total	(6		)	5			(10		)
Total income tax expense	$	102		$	116		$	248
Effective tax rate	32.9		%	36.7		%	33.7		%

CenterPoint Houston recorded a $9 million decrease in tax expense during 2011 related to the release of income tax reserves on the tax normalization issue discussed below, which resulted in a net decrease of $4 million in tax expense for the year for all uncertain tax positions.

As a result of the enactment in March 2010 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the related Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, a portion of retiree health care costs that are reimbursed by Medicare Part D subsidies will no longer be tax deductible effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2012. Based upon the actuarially determined net present value of lost future retiree health care deductions related to the subsidies, CenterPoint Houston reduced its deferred tax asset related to future retiree health care deductions by approximately $7 million in March 2010. The entire reduction in the deferred tax asset was recorded as an adjustment to regulatory assets because CenterPoint Houston believes it will be recovered through the regulatory process. Additionally, the regulatory assets were adjusted in March 2010 by approximately $4 million related to the recovery of CenterPoint Houston’s income taxes.

Due to CenterPoint Energy’s settlement with the IRS for tax years 2004 and 2005, CenterPoint Houston recorded an income tax benefit of approximately $9 million in 2009 related to a reduction in the liability for uncertain tax positions of approximately $39 million.

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:



	December 31,
	2010		2011
	(in millions)
Deferred tax assets:
Current:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	1	$	1
Other	2		2
Total current deferred tax assets	3		3
Non-current:
Employee benefits	91		94
Other	5		10
Total non-current deferred tax assets	96		104
Total deferred tax assets	99		107

Deferred tax liabilities:
Non-current:
Depreciation	668		943
Regulatory assets, net	856		1,274
Total deferred tax liabilities	1,524		2,217
Accumulated deferred income taxes, net	$	1,425	$	2,110

CenterPoint Houston is included in the consolidated income tax returns of CenterPoint Energy. CenterPoint Houston calculates its income tax provision on a separate return basis under a tax sharing agreement with CenterPoint Energy.

Uncertain Income Tax Positions. The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balance of CenterPoint Houston’s unrecognized tax benefits:



	December 31,
	2009			2010			2011
	(in millions)
Balance, beginning of year	$	123		$	175		$	232
Tax Positions related to prior years:
Additions	38			10			—
Reductions	(24		)	(3		)	(192		)

Tax Positions related to current year:
Additions	53			50			4
Settlements	(15		)	—			—
Balance, end of year	$	175		$	232		$	44

The net decrease in the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits during 2011 is primarily related to the remeasurement of a potential tax normalization violation. As a result of the Settlement, discussed in Note 4b, CenterPoint Houston has determined that the potential normalization violation has been prevented and consequently, recorded a reduction to the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits of $203 million. The unrecognized tax benefit for the normalization issue was a temporary difference and, therefore, the decrease in the balance thereto resulted in an increase to the deferred tax liability of $194 million and a decrease in income tax expense of $9 million for the release of accrued interest expense. It is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by $29 million over the next 12 months primarily as a result of the anticipated resolution of CenterPoint Energy's administrative appeal associated with an IRS examination described below.

CenterPoint Houston has approximately $9 million, $14 million and $18 million of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would reduce the effective income tax rate for 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. CenterPoint Houston recognizes interest and penalties as a component of income tax expense. CenterPoint Houston recognized approximately $5 million of income tax benefit, $8 million of income tax expense and $12 million of income tax benefit related to interest on uncertain income tax positions during 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. CenterPoint Houston had approximately $17 million and $5 million of interest on uncertain income tax positions accrued at December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Tax Audits and Settlements. CenterPoint Energy's consolidated federal income tax returns have been audited and settled through the 2005 tax year. CenterPoint Energy has a tentative closing agreement for tax years 2006 and 2007 with the IRS's Appeals Division pending review by the Joint Committee on Taxation. The most significant adjustment proposed by the IRS relates to the disallowance of CenterPoint Energy's 2007 casualty loss deduction totaling $603 million associated with the damage caused by Hurricane Ike. CenterPoint Energy is currently under examination by the IRS for tax years 2008 and 2009 and is at various stages of the examination process. CenterPoint Houston has considered the effects of these examinations in its accrual for settled issues and liability for uncertain income tax positions as of December 31, 2011.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Article 4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 136, 172
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h))
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+ Details

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies	Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	Commitments and Contingencies (a) Lease Commitments CenterPoint Houston currently has no obligations under non-cancelable long-term operating leases for the years 2012 to 2016. Total lease expense for all operating leases was less than $1 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011. (b) Legal and Environmental Matters Legal Matters Gas Market Manipulation Cases. CenterPoint Energy, CenterPoint Houston or their predecessor, Reliant Energy, Incorporated (Reliant Energy), and certain of their former subsidiaries are named as defendants in certain lawsuits described below. Under a master separation agreement between CenterPoint Energy and a former subsidiary, RRI Energy, Inc. (RRI), CenterPoint Energy and its subsidiaries are entitled to be indemnified by RRI and its successors for any losses, including attorneys’ fees and other costs, arising out of these lawsuits. In May 2009, RRI sold its Texas retail business to a subsidiary of NRG and changed its name to RRI Energy, Inc. In December 2010, Mirant Corporation merged with and became a wholly owned subsidiary of RRI Energy, Inc., and RRI Energy, Inc. changed its name to GenOn Energy, Inc. (GenOn). Neither the sale of the retail business nor the merger with Mirant Corporation alters RRI’s (now GenOn’s) contractual obligations to indemnify CenterPoint Energy and its subsidiaries, including CenterPoint Houston, for certain liabilities, including their indemnification obligations regarding the gas market manipulation litigation. A large number of lawsuits were filed against numerous gas market participants in a number of federal and western state courts in connection with the operation of the natural gas markets in 2000-2002. CenterPoint Energy’s former affiliate, RRI, was a participant in gas trading in the California and Western markets. These lawsuits, many of which have been filed as class actions, allege violations of state and federal antitrust laws. Plaintiffs in these lawsuits are seeking a variety of forms of relief, including, among others, recovery of compensatory damages (in some cases in excess of $1 billion), a trebling of compensatory damages, full consideration damages and attorneys’ fees. CenterPoint Energy and/or Reliant Energy were named in approximately 30 of these lawsuits, which were instituted between 2003 and 2009. CenterPoint Energy and its affiliates have been released or dismissed from all but two of such cases. CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc. (CES), a subsidiary of CERC Corp., is a defendant in a case now pending in federal court in Nevada alleging a conspiracy to inflate Wisconsin natural gas prices in 2000-2002. In July 2011, the court issued an order dismissing the plaintiffs' claims against the other defendants in the case, each of whom had demonstrated FERC jurisdictional sales for resale during the relevant period, based on federal preemption. The plaintiffs have appealed this ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Additionally, CenterPoint Energy was a defendant in a lawsuit filed in state court in Nevada that was dismissed in 2007, but in March 2010 the plaintiffs appealed the dismissal to the Nevada Supreme Court. CenterPoint Energy believes that neither it nor CES is a proper defendant in these remaining cases and will continue to pursue dismissal from those cases. CenterPoint Houston does not expect the ultimate outcome of these remaining matters to have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Environmental Matters Asbestos. Some facilities owned by CenterPoint Energy contain or have contained asbestos insulation and other asbestos-containing materials. CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries, including CenterPoint Houston, have been named, along with numerous others, as a defendant in lawsuits filed by a number of individuals who claim injury due to exposure to asbestos. Some of the claimants have worked at locations owned by CenterPoint Energy or CenterPoint Houston, but most existing claims relate to facilities previously owned by CenterPoint Energy’s other subsidiaries or CenterPoint Houston, but currently owned by NRG Texas LP. CenterPoint Energy anticipates that additional claims like those received may be asserted in the future. In 2004 and early 2005, CenterPoint Energy sold its generating business, to which most of these claims relate, to a company which is now an affiliate of NRG. Under the terms of the arrangements regarding separation of the generating business from CenterPoint Energy and its sale of that business, ultimate financial responsibility for uninsured losses from claims relating to the generating business has been assumed by the NRG affiliate, but CenterPoint Energy has agreed to continue to defend such claims to the extent they are covered by insurance maintained by CenterPoint Energy, subject to reimbursement of the costs of such defense by the NRG affiliate. Although their ultimate outcome cannot be predicted at this time, CenterPoint Houston or CenterPoint Energy, as appropriate, intends to continue vigorously contesting claims that are not considered to have merit and CenterPoint Houston does not expect, based on its experience to date, these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Other Environmental. From time to time CenterPoint Houston identifies the presence of environmental contaminants on property where it conducts or has conducted operations. Other such sites involving contaminants may be identified in the future. CenterPoint Houston has and expects to continue to remediate identified sites consistent with its legal obligations. From time to time CenterPoint Houston has received notices from regulatory authorities or others regarding its status as a potentially responsible party in connection with sites found to require remediation due to the presence of environmental contaminants. In addition, CenterPoint Houston has been named from time to time as a defendant in litigation related to such sites. Although the ultimate outcome of such matters cannot be predicted at this time, CenterPoint Houston does not expect, based on its experience to date, these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Other Proceedings CenterPoint Houston is involved in other legal, environmental, tax and regulatory proceedings before various courts, regulatory commissions and governmental agencies regarding matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Some of these proceedings involve substantial amounts. CenterPoint Houston regularly analyzes current information and, as necessary, provides accruals for probable liabilities on the eventual disposition of these matters. CenterPoint Houston does not expect the disposition of these matters to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 14
-Paragraph 3
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 5
-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6398077&loc=d3e12565-110249

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 440
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25287-109308

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6449706&loc=d3e16207-108621

+ Details

Unaudited Quarterly Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Unaudited Quarterly Information [Abstract]

Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block]

Unaudited Quarterly Information

Summarized quarterly financial data is as follows:



	Year Ended December 31, 2010
	First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter
	(in millions)
Revenues	$	488	$	562	$	655	$	506
Operating income	113		158		212		90
Net income	30		60		92		18



	December 31, 2011
	First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter
	(in millions, except per share amounts)
Revenues	$	489	$	606	$	707	$	535
Operating income	101		185		244		93
Income before extraordinary item (1)	24		79		367		18
Extraordinary item, net of tax (1)	—		—		598		—
Net income	$	24	$	79	$	965	$	18


(1)	During the third quarter of 2011, CenterPoint Energy recorded an extraordinary gain of $598 million, after-tax, related to the Final Order and a $229 million, after-tax, return on true-up balance included in Income before extraordinary item related to a portion of interest on the appealed amount as discussed in Note 4(b).

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the quarterly financial data in the annual financial statements. The disclosure may include a tabular presentation of financial information for each fiscal quarter for the current and previous year, including revenues, gross profit, income or loss before extraordinary items and earnings per share data. It also includes an indication if the information in the note is unaudited, comments on the aggregate effect of year-end adjustments, and an explanation of matters or transactions that affect comparability or are pertinent to an understanding of the information furnished.

+ References + Details